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4/8/24
And some more random thoughts…
As has always been the case, going back to the beginning of time I suppose, your mode of transportation has always been a symbol of your status in society. Here you see two xe đạp (bicycles) and two xe máy (motorbikes).
![Picture of two bicycles on left and two motorbikes on right](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/675229/w/2000/UQv6GMZ6XKBI/bikes.jpg)
A large portion of the Vietnamese cuisine is fish. This carp will soon find it's way into a variety of dishes ranging from soups to pan-fried dishes to roasted (over open fires) dishes. This carp, by the way, is medium size. I'd guess this weighs in at about 7 or 8 lbs, 20" in length, and probably 7 inches in breadth. I've seen carp pulled out of the lake by my house that would weigh in at 20lbs, 30" in length, and a good 10" in breadth.
![Picture of fish laying on pavement](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/675218/w/2000/Kd0GepFwSKM1/fish.jpg)
The "red leaves" on this decorated dormant tree (soon to bud) represent "lì xì" (pronounced “lee-see” with a falling tone) which translates to “lucky money”. Lucky money is small denominations of money given to each other during the Tet Holiday - you put it in red envelopes (red is a lucky color).
![picture of dormant tree with red envelopes on the branches](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/675228/w/2000/b54zn5kcjS36/vegan.jpg)
Yesterday was International Women's Day. We celebrated this day of recognition by taking all our female faculty and staff out to lunch and giving them flowers and money. I can't help but wonder how this woman in Hai Phong was honored? (that's the ocean harbor in the background)
![lady in Vietnameese squatting at edge of ocean with small ojectes in front of her](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/679974/w/2000/AYsOHadkTudn/Hai%20Phong.jpg)
![Picture of motorbikes, cars, and a three wheel vehicle on a rainy day](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/680000/w/2000/vgft-kBcc3zU/rain.jpg)
When it rains in Hanoi folks just adapt and carry on. Note the windshield on the three wheel vehicle (called a “xe lam” - pronounced “say lam” with a flat tone) conveniently folds down. The folks on the motorbikes (called "xe máy" - “say mah-ee” with a raising tone) just stop anywhere on the road and put on a rain poncho and continue on. Cars ("xe ô tô" pronounced “say oh toe” with a flat tone) just put on the windshield wipers. :)
![Picture of rooster on top of a car](https://docs.gato.txst.edu/680011/w/2000/k1pW87qKzP93/rooster.jpg)
Nothing to crow about here…
NOVEMBER p.2, p.3, p.4, p.5, p.6, p.7